Monday, January 25, 2010
Tech Group Proposes New Format For Digital Music Files

BACH Technology, a company affiliated with the Fraunhofer IIS where the MP3 format was developed, is proposing the MusicDNA digital audiuo format as the successor of the popular MP3.

MusicDNA is a digital music file format which will embed additional content for fans including lyrics, news updates and images and could be a successor to the MP3 file, the company claims.

BACH?s core technology, the MusicDNA, employs a complex but automated process to create extensive music metadata, including analysis of a track?s mood, tempo, density, instrumentation and even 'colour'. This metadata, in essence the MusicDNA, allows for a much more detailed description of media files. MusicDNA would allow fans to download an MP3 file on to their computer, which would carry with it additional content. The technology would allow music labels or retailers could to send updates to the music file every time they have something new to announce.

BACH also plans to relased an offline version of their MusicDNA technology, which will allow listeners to enjoy the benefits of MusicDNA wherever they go. Full details are expected to announce in the following weeks, the company said.

The music files will be compatible with MP3 players including Apple's iPod. A beta version of the MusicDNA will be available in the Spring and a full commercial rollout is expected by the summer.

BACH Technology is currently looking to partner with retailers, music labels, rights holders and technology companies.

BACH?s team has been involved with the development of digital music since 1986. Company founder Dagfinn Bach is one digital music?s early pioneers, while Bach?s technology partner is Germany?s Fraunhofer IDMT (Institute for Digital Media Technology), a spin off from the Fraunhofer IIS (Institute for Integrated Circuits), where the MP3 was developed.

Investors include Karlheinz Brandenburg, who invented the MP3, and 247 Inc. the company of Shigeo Maruyama, former CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, while CEO Stefan Kohlmeyer is a veteran of German media giant Bertelsmann.